Shepherd with Dog and Sheep 1806

This print of a shepherd with dog and sheep was made by John Boyne around the turn of the 19th century using the technique of etching. The process is all about line work, isn't it? First, the artist covers a metal plate with a waxy ground, then scratches an image into the ground with a needle, exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. When the ground is removed, ink is applied to the etched lines and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you can see the crisp, precise lines etched into the metal. Boyne was a printmaker, which meant that he was part of a commercial system dedicated to the wide dissemination of images. Think about that: while a painting is unique, an etching can be reproduced many times over. It is a subtle but powerful form of early industrialization, putting images of idyllic rural life into circulation. What do you think, does this provide a new perspective on the image?